Member countries quickly agree
EU puts Russian ministers on sanctions list
02/24/2022 02:29 am
The European Union is responding to Moscow’s recognition of the separatist areas with a new package of sanctions. Some Russian ministers are also affected. However, President Putin is still spared the punitive measures.
The EU has imposed new sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine crisis. Those affected include Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, Economics Minister Maxim Reshetnikov and Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Grigorenko, according to the Official Journal of the European Union published during the night.
The foreign ministers of the EU countries had already reached a political agreement on the sanctions package on Tuesday evening. On Wednesday, the punitive measures were then formally decided by the 27 EU countries. Publication in the Official Journal is now the last step. EU Council President Charles Michel has also convened a crisis summit of heads of state and government in Brussels for this Thursday evening. There could be discussed further measures against Russia.
The EU sanctions package envisages putting the 351 members of the Russian parliament on the EU sanctions list, who initiated the recognition of the self-proclaimed People’s Republics of Luhansk and Donetsk in eastern Ukraine. In addition, there are 27 individuals and organizations who contribute to undermining the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.
Troll factory close to the Kremlin also in focus
In addition to the two ministers Shoigu and Reshetnikov and Deputy Prime Minister Grigorenko, the spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova, the editor-in-chief of the state broadcaster RT, Margarita Simonian, the head of the presidential administration Anton Vajno and the well-known Kremlin propagandist Vladimir Solovyov are on the sanctions list.
A so-called Internet research agency based in St. Petersburg, which is known as a Kremlin-related troll factory and spreads disinformation, is also mentioned. Likewise, high-ranking military and businessmen are part of the list. There are also the Russian state bank Promsvyazbank, Bank Rossiya and the financial development institute Veb.rf. In addition, the Russian state’s access to the EU financial markets is to be curtailed and the EU’s trade with the two regions is to be restricted.
Any person or entity placed on the EU sanctions list will have their assets in the EU frozen. In addition, listed persons are no longer allowed to enter the EU and no more business can be done with those affected.
Despite his responsibility for the recent escalation in the Ukraine conflict, the EU is not initially imposing any EU sanctions against Russian President Vladimir Putin. The decision was made because there was a need to have further measures in reserve, said EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell. According to the EU, punitive measures are now in place against 555 people and 52 organizations for violating Ukraine’s territorial integrity.